SRINAGAR, India – Two gunmen attacked a government tourism complex yesterday on the eve of the first bus service across divided Kashmir in nearly six decades, but the waiting passengers escaped unharmed and both India and Pakistan vowed the buses would run as planned.

Authorities said the two alleged Islamic militants died in a gunbattle with Indian security forces. Six people were reported injured in the clash, which set off a ferocious fire that destroyed the main building along with historic documents and photographs of the divided Himalayan territory.

Four Muslim separatist groups that had vowed to disrupt the bus service claimed responsibility for the attack aimed at one of the clearest positive steps so far in stumbling efforts by India and Pakistan to find peace after 58 years as enemies.

Both countries claim all of Kashmir and have fought two of their three wars over it, but officials said they would press ahead with opening bus service today between Srinagar in India's portion of the Himalayan region and Muzaffarabad on Pakistan's side.

"We cannot, at any cost, give in. This bus, Allah willing, is going to roll tomorrow," said Mehbooba Mufti, president of the People's Democratic Party, which governs India's Jammu-Kashmir state.

Pakistani officials echoed her stand.

"Pakistan strongly condemns anyone attacking innocent people," Foreign Minister Khursheed Kasuri said in Islamabad. "What is their crime? Their only wish is to meet with their relatives."

Jammu-Kashmir is the only Muslim-majority state in predominantly Hindu India, and a dozen Islamic groups have waged a separatist uprising since 1989 that has killed at least 66,000 people. The most militant of the groups are trying to derail peace efforts.

Early yesterday afternoon, two militants made it through the gate of the heavily guarded tourism complex where about two dozen bus passengers were staying and began shooting in the courtyard.

It was not clear how they got past the guards, but a gunbattle broke out and the main building in the complex caught fire, shooting flames more than 100 feet high and filling the air with black smoke.

The passengers, who were in protective custody because of fears they could be targeted by extremists, were in a separate building that did not catch fire.

As smoke poured from Kashmir's main tourism offices, staff members jumped from ground-floor windows helped by soldiers. In front, a banner flapped in the wind and smoke. "Heartiest Welcome To Our Honored Guests," it read.